Politicians 'failed the pub industry'

Politicians have failed the pub and brewing industry, admitted chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) Andrew Griffiths MP.

Politicians have failed the pub and brewing industry, admitted Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton-on-Trent, and the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG).

Speaking to MPs and members of the trade at the annual APPBG dinner last week, he claimed that it was time for politicians to do "much more".

He said: "We love British beer and love the pub industry. We want to see the renaissance of the pub and bar industry. "British beer is something we should be proud of. We should do more to celebrate the best British products. We, as politicians, have let you down. Whilst we all support the beer industry and pubs, over successive years the Government has, in many ways, made it difficult for you to trade.

"We have to recognise this in Westminster and, more importantly, in No 10."

He said the Government's 'Big Society' policy was en-capsulated by the community pub, saying: "We talk about binge-drinking and the scourge of alcohol in society. The community pub is not the problem, it is the solution to solving binge-drinking."

He also claimed the shift towards people buying alcohol from supermarkets rather than pubs has "caused the breakdown in society".

Griffiths asked MPs to pledge to do something for local pubs and breweries in their constituency.

He also called on MPs, when they volunteer in their community, to consider working a shift in their local.

"Not only would you learn something, you would demonstrate your commitment to community pubs," he added.